Mark Richardson: Big call to install Sodhi for test

It's a risk but I like it. I've been crying out for a wrist spinner and Ish Sodhi has got my hopes up. More importantly, he appears to have the trust of the selectors.

It's a big call going into a test with the new leggie the only specialist spin bowler. Sure, you can do it if your leggie is Shane Warne but Sodhi's not quite at that level yet. Accuracy and consistency are not your usual wrist spinner's companions.

You need spin options in a test and must select with five days in mind but Dunedin pre-Christmas may tempt the selectors towards an all-seam attack with Kane Williamson the spin option.

That wouldn't be a bad call because, if the ball swings, I'd back our swing bowlers against the West Indies batting but I don't want to see a three day shoot-out; to progress as a unit, I feel Sodhi's continued development requires consistent selection.

That said, Kane would probably be annoyed should he be reading this. I get the feeling he believes in himself in every aspect of his cricket, an admirable quality, and he would shudder at the thought of someone labelling him as anything less than a specialist spin bowler.

Williamson would do a good job in a line-up of four seamers and himself to provide the change up but I don't want any distractions as he continues to build his batting statistics to place him where his potential must take him ... top of the tree.

While he would relish the responsibility of being the No 1 spin bowler, there's no denying that does take mental energy from one's batting, more so than if you're more 'an' option rather than 'the' option. And let's not forget that if he plays, he comes in under a slight injury cloud.

I'm excited about Sodhi all right but for this test, I will admit I am not over-hopeful of him playing. Practical and sensible thinking does point towards a bit of life in the pitch to help our strength - which is our four swing bowlers - and to protect our batsmen from the tricks of West Indies spinners Sunil Narine and Shane Shillingford.